Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-06-22
RIVAL PETROLEUM POWERS.
Composition Between the United States
and Russia-Burmah's oil wells.

Competiti0u Between the united states
and Russia-Burmahs oil wells.
The United States and Russia are now
rival petroleum powers. Within ten
years the Paris Rothschilds have invested
$40, 900 in the Baku oil fields. and
the engineering skill of Ludwig Nobel has
made the Caspian district the center of
gigantic commercial enterprise. The an
nual production of lamp oil in that quar-
ter now exceeds 125, 100000 gallons; a
great fleet of tank steamers has been
built; thousands of tank cars are running
on Russian railways; 100 miles of pipe
line have been laid; the export of liquid
fuel reaches ll5, 900, 900 gallons yearly;
and the petroleum trade on the continent
has been revolutionized. The loss of
American trade in Europe caused by the
development Of the Baku oil fields has been
made up by an enormous increase of the
export Of petroleum to Australia and In
dia. Russia is now attempting TO COM
pete with America by shipping oil from
Batoum TO Bombay; and by the acquisi-
ton Of Burmah England has il in her
power 10 enter the field as a formidable
rival for the contro, Of the Indian and
Australian market.
Mr.. Charles Marvin has recently pub
lished an incisive pamphlet on this new
field for British enterprise. He describes
the Burmese oil fields as immensely valu-
able and capable of indefinite extension.
The chief deposits are at Yenangyoung
Irax..aI.. oh 81 xtu V,,tlal ahAyn fla
terminus of the Rangoon railway; and
there are additional fields in Assam and
in two islands on the coast of Burmah.
The existence OF the oil field has been
known for century, but the industry is
still as undeveloped as Baku was ten
years ago. The deepest well does not go
below 400 feet, and the total product
shipped in 1884 TO tangoon did not
exceed 100000 gallons. The director
of the geological survey of India, who
has carefully explored the region, pre-
diets that under proper management and
with improved engineering processes an
enormous export trade can be established.
He considers it safe prophecy ''that the
oil measures Of eastern India may he
supplying half the world with light
within measurable time when the Amer
ican oil pools have run dry" Mr.. Mar
win. taking up the parable, pronounces
England's prospects as a petroleum power
as unsurpassed. since the Burmah wells
are inexhaustible and most conveniently
situated for supplying the Indian and
Australian rs well as the European mar
kct. Tie oil deposits are near the coast.
and can Ike connected easily with Ran
goon by railway and pipe line. All that
is needed, in his opinion. for making Eng
land a successful rival of the United
States and Russia is capital aided by en-
gineering genius.
The same objection which was urged
against the development Of the Raku oil
district applies 10 Burmah. While from
100 gallons of crude petroleum in Penn.
sylvania seventy-five gallons of lamp oil
can Ike obtained. the proportion is much
lower for the competing fields. Baku
crude yields only thirty gallons Of lamp
oil and Yenangyoung even less. Mr.
Marvin. while contcnding that il is pre-
mature to judge of the quality Of Bur-
NAH petroleum until deeper borings are
made. is willing to take the proportion as
il stands and 10 guarantee extraordinary
prosperity 10 this new British industry
New York Tribune.